Book: 'First to Fight' a must read for Marines

[CommunityEditor]

'First to Fight' now tops the USMC reading list.

Article: http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/news...g_list_070605/


Will you read it? Have you bought a copy? What are your initial thoughts? What are your second thoughts? Do you agree?


Note: This board is for discussions on the 'First to Fight' contents, the reading list and related topics.



Commandant Gen. James Conway has put Lt. Gen. Victor "Brute" Krulak's "First to Fight" at the top of the Marine Corps reading list.

[ac olszewski]

Following is a book review found in the May/June issue of the Purple Heart Magazine. I have read this wonderful book and found the review to be right on target. Colonel Price's book should be added to General Conway's reading list ASAP because it ranks with Flag of Our Fathers.
Semper Fidelis,
A.C. Olszewski
p.s. A ship has been named in honor of book's subject: USS DONALD COOK DDG-75 homeported in Norfolk and currently deployed to the Med.

THE FIRST MARINE
CAPTURED IN VIETNAM
A Biography of Donald G. Cook
By Donald L. Price
334 pages $35 softcover
67 photographs, appendix, notes,
bibliography, index
ISBN 978-0-7864-2804-5 2007
McFarland & Co., Inc.
www.mcfarlandpub.com
(800) 253-2187
Reviewed by Cy Kammeier
A very impressive work by retired Marine and former advisor
to Vietnamese Marines, Colonel Don Price. The writing
style and obvious depth of research paints a vivid word picture of
VC prisoner of war Marine Donald G. Cook from the time of
capture on December 31, 1964 until his death from malaria three
years later. Cook’s remains have never been recovered, however,
the courageous leadership and actions that earned Cook the
nation’s highest award, the Medal of Honor, during his captivity
have been well recovered by Price. Both the research and the
writing are exceptional, obviously a work of admiration and
respect for a fellow Marine by a Marine who trod in many of the
same footsteps as Cook.
While everyone who has served in Vietnam, or any war for that
matter, has a book within himself, the biographer in this case
brings out much which most heroes would never bring out in an
autobiography. The depth of his research based on interviews
and first-hand knowledge of the debilitating diseases, harsh conditions,
and life in the jungle makes this an exceptionally factual
representation of what Cook endured in the period of his captivity.
This biography which relates to a unique and unusual chapter
in the Vietnam War rates a place in history among the best
writings of that conflict.
As senior officer among several POWs, Cook displayed exceptional
courage and devotion to the welfare of his fellow prisoners,
refusing to submit to indoctrination efforts or physical abuse
to coerce political statements, which led to the posthumous award
of the Medal of Honor. In the history of the Marine Corps, Cook
is the only Marine captive to ever earn the nation’s highest award,
or to have a U.S. Navy ship named after him. He earned it, not
for a single deed, but for continuing acts of valor that were undertaken
without regard to personal safety or comfort. He died
while nursing and comforting comrades held by Communist guerrillas
in the South. While many stories have been written about
life among POWs held in the North, this is one of the rare insights
of day to day survival in the tropical, dense, triple canopy
jungles of South Vietnam.
“The First Marine Captured In Vietnam,” should be required
reading by every soldier or Marine before going into combat as a
source of great inspiration. It is not only a captivating read, but as
a result of Cook’s actions and Price’s ability to translate them
into words, the memory of Cook will be indelibly inscribed among
the most heroic of all Marines in the long and illustrious history
of the Corps. Semper Fidelis is a perfect descriptor of Cook’s
performance and Price’s devotion to a fellow Marine.

[SSgt2111]

I read this book several years ago. I don't have the book in front of me but if memory serves, my two favorite chapters were "Doing it on the Cheap" and "The Art of Institutional Theft". IMHO the book is ok, but nothing to do cartwheels over. I don't see what the big deal is with the change, nothing groundbreaking here, this book has been on the list forever, now it is just mandatory that everyone reads it. Honestly, I can probably count on one hand the Marines I know that have ever read anything of the Commandants/Marines reading list of their own free will. At commands where I have had the luxury of time I have ensured my Marines read books of the list, but the reality is for a lot of units the myriad of required training that is actually important (life saving) is at the top of the list. The Marines reading list is very low on most Marines lists of "Things to do".

[Kronus]

As news came to me that it was now required reading for all Marines, I started searching for the book. I found that it is no longer being published--and the only copies available were used and cost over $120. How this slipped past the Commandant and his staff I will never know. But, "like a good Marine should", I paid the money and will read the book when it arrives. I will be donating it to my unit so that no one else has to spend their hard earned money on a book that has recieved less than stellar reviews (according to those on Amazon).

Also, I am one of that "handful of Marines" who read books off the reading list of my own freewill.

[SSgt2111]

They are indeed publishing this book. Our Supply section just recieved a copy from Amazon.com, not the original pring $120 version. I have two copies myself, one I ordered from the Marine Corps Association bookstore, and I later recieved another one for a college class I was enrolled in, neither cost me $120. If it is not to late cancel your order and dig a little deeper.

[Kronus]

It's in the mail. I don't know where you found it. All I could find on Amazon was "out of stock," "no longer in publication," and "two used from $121 and up".

EDIT:you're correct. I've found it on amazon for $40 in hardcover, and $110 in paperback. I ordered a month and a half ago, had it sent to my mother's house, and she's sending it to me in country. I would absolutely cancel if I could.